Do you care about timing in your studies? Though some may believe that the answer is “yes,” in practice, the true answer would be “no” for most students.
When acquiring education in college, most of us spend lots of time thinking about how we will handle the task, which methods we will use, etc. Yet, we rarely pay due care to the matter of when we will do that, which is a huge omission.
In reality, a growing body of scientific research suggests that timing might be more important in studies than we ever thought. Timing affects us on the micro level by acting on our genes, hormones, and physiology and on the macro level by altering our performance and mood.
The Impact of Timing on Your Studies
As a student, especially in STEM majors, you must deal with many homework assignments and other college-related issues. We bet that handling all these things isn’t easy. Luckily, there are a few ways to simplify this.
On the one hand, you can always turn to professionals for help, let’s say, hire expert research paper writers and get your tasks done with no effort. It is a great solution when the task is too complex, the deadline is too soon, or you need rest. On the other hand, you can hack the code and start studying better, and that’s where timing is crucial.
Managing the time of your studies effectively can have an enormous impact on your learning because how you plan to do different activities throughout the day can impact the outcome of these activities. Hence, a 2019 Journal of Educational Psychology study suggests that in-between learning, activities and explanations are more productive than after-study. In contrast, written retrieval practices tend to be more effective after study. It is because our brain is fresh and more focused in the morning, enabling it to understand and remember new information more easily. On the contrary, after-study time (between 2 pm and 5 pm) is when our critical thinking and analytical skills peak, making it a good time for analyzing what has already been learned.
Now, imagine using these and many other timing hacks to complement your STEM studies. In the long run, it can help you:
- Become more productive
- Use your time more efficiently
- Retain new information better
- Cope with your tasks more easily
- Score better grades
Tools to Hack Timing for Your STEM Studies
Now that you know what benefits you may get from it, you may be wondering how to start timing your studies better.
We’re going to tell you about the top time-tracking tools that can help:
Remember the Milk
Remember the Milk is an app that can be used on your computer, mobile device, or web-based. It acts as your personal to-do reminder, reminding you what you’ve planned to do during each specific hour of the day to ensure that you never forget about an important task. Such a planner with reminders is a good starting point for establishing new study habits and organizing the old ones.
Pomofocus
If you haven’t heard about the Pomodoro technique, it’s one of the best time-tested tactics for battling procrastination and working more effectively. It implies setting equal periods (typically 25 minutes) and short breaks in between to improve the timing of your workflow.
Pomofocus is the number one tool that uses this technique. It can be used from the web or as an app to start working productively, and it can significantly transform your habitual study sessions.
Brain Focus Productivity Timer
Brain Focus Productivity Timer is a tool similar to Pomofocus. The only difference is that Brain Focus doesn’t use the Pomodoro technique and lets you set timers for studies and breaks to whatever you want. It’s a good tool for students who strive to have longer study periods and remain motivated to complete the task.
Cold Turkey Blocker
If you want to get on a schedule with your studies but can’t help but stop distracting on other things, this tool is a good bet. Cold Turkey Blocker is a customizable timing app that doesn’t just let you set timers for your study sessions. It also enables you to pick sites and apps you don’t want to visit during this time to avoid distractions that block them. There is also a special mode called Frozen Turkey that blocks your entire computer for a set amount of time for occasions when you have to focus solely on your textbook or assignment.
The Bottom Line
Defining the right time for your studies and breaks and getting on a schedule can transform your studies, especially in STEM subjects that require tremendous focus and dedication. Of course, getting started with proper timing might feel confusing and even challenging. Luckily, now you’re all set for success!
After reading this guide the OrderEssay team provides, you should better understand the unique benefits timing can offer you. On top of that, you also now have a list of apps that can help you get on the right track with planning your studies better and sticking to the schedule. Start using them now to boost your productivity and achieve greater academic success!
